Kris Honel | Starting Pitcher

Latest News

Recent News

Free agent Kris Honel threw for the Cardinals on Monday.

Honel retired at the end of July, but obviously that didn't take. The 2001 first-round pick has battled arm problems for three years and is a long shot to make it as a major league reliever. Mon, Feb 25, 2008 08:56:00 PM

Former first-round pick Kris Honel has told the White Sox that he is retiring.

A first rounder in 2001 who developed into one of the game's better pitching prospects, Honel began having arm problems in 2004 and missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery. He was 2-2 with a 5.79 ERA at Double-A. Wed, Aug 1, 2007 09:12:00 AM

Double-A Birmingham's Kris Honel pitched six scoreless innings Monday in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Honel, a 2001 first-round pick, initially injured his elbow in early 2004 and hadn't been the same sense. He eventually underwent surgery at the end of 2005. Time will tell if he can reemerge as a prospect at age 24, but Monday's performance was a good start. Tue, Apr 10, 2007 02:30:00 PM

White Sox sent RHP Kris Honel outright to Double-A Birmingham.

Honel, the team's top pitching prospect a year ago, had had elbow problems and is now throwing in just the mid-80s. It's still mildly surprising some team didn't take a chance on him. The Royals have worse bets on their 40-man roster, and the Indians would have been better off taking a chance on his velocity coming back than on Jose Diaz ever finding home plate. Fri, Jun 10, 2005 04:48:00 PM

Player News

Former first-round pick Kris Honel has told the White Sox that he is retiring.

A first rounder in 2001 who developed into one of the game's better pitching prospects, Honel began having arm problems in 2004 and missed all of last season following Tommy John surgery. He was 2-2 with a 5.79 ERA at Double-A.

Double-A Birmingham's Kris Honel pitched six scoreless innings Monday in his return from Tommy John surgery.

Honel, a 2001 first-round pick, initially injured his elbow in early 2004 and hadn't been the same sense. He eventually underwent surgery at the end of 2005. Time will tell if he can reemerge as a prospect at age 24, but Monday's performance was a good start.

Honel, the team's top pitching prospect a year ago, had had elbow problems and is now throwing in just the mid-80s. It's still mildly surprising some team didn't take a chance on him. The Royals have worse bets on their 40-man roster, and the Indians would have been better off taking a chance on his velocity coming back than on Jose Diaz ever finding home plate.

Kris Honel left his start for Double-A Birmingham last night with a sore elbow.

Honel, a 2001 first-round pick and the White Sox's top pitching prospect, will undergo an MRI today. "The last three fastballs I threw I felt a sharp pain in the back of my elbow," Honel said. "I called the trainer out and told him it was hurting."

Depth Charts

Yadier Molina (concussion) said he's hoping to play again this season, possibly as early as Thursday.

Molina was pulled from Monday's series opener against the Cubs after taking consecutive foul tips off his mask and he vomited as he walked off the field, but he told reporters Tuesday that the nausea has already passed. It'd probably be wise for the Cardinals to simply shut him down, but they have not been mathematically eliminated from the postseason quite yet. Carson Kelly is starting behind the plate for St. Louis on Tuesday versus Chicago.

Jose Martinez (thumb) is aiming to return to the Cardinals' lineup on Wednesday.

Martinez hasn't played since last Friday due to a left thumb sprain, but a cortisone shot has helped expedite his recovery and he is planning to take pregame batting practice on Tuesday. The 29-year-old first baseman and corner outfielder has posted an impressive .309/.376/.516 batting line with 13 home runs and 42 RBI in 100 games this season for St. Louis.

Reyes is simply making throws from one knee at this point, but it's a big first step as he works his way back from February Tommy John surgery. The young right-hander is expected to be ready for the beginning of next season.

Rosenthal injured his right elbow last week. After Dr. George Paletta and Dr. Neal ElAttrache examined medical scans of his arm, Tommy John was determined as the needed course of action. Dr. ElAttrache will perform the procedure. The 27-year-old right-hander is now looking at a long, long road of recovery and will not be ready to return to action until late next summer, at the earliest. Seung Hwan Oh looks like the best bet for saves down the stretch in St. Louis, though Tyler Lyons and John Brebbia could also factor in.